Today’s scripture: 2 Cor 2:5-11 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Don Clark):
In this segment of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian believers, he seems to be referring back to his first letter. He is referring to an individual that has been severely disciplined by the congregation. It seems that the person has repented of his offense, but at least some in the congregation are still unforgiving. Paul’s concern seems to be that the congregation has indeed gone overboard with their punishment to the point of being both unforgiving and pushing the individual to possibly be permanently separated from the fellowship. This of course is not the purpose of Paul’s original rebuke.
Paul asks this body of believers to reaffirm their love for him in spite of his previous offense. Of course we have all seen and heard the phrase ‘Love Wins’ after the recent Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage, and it seems that the modern church has not yet grasped the spirit of what has happened to this individual in the Corinthian church. Today’s church, like the one in Paul’s time, can all too easily ostracize and condemn those with whom members disagree on any particular issue. In the case of this individual in Corinth, Paul was warning that their unforgiveness and condemnation was counterproductive, in that the person was on the verge of being permanently lost to the family of faith. By holding such an attitude, the church was giving away an opportunity to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm God’s love to us all. Ultimately, we have to ask if it is better to hammer away at those who disagree or are different or to look at our fellow travelers with love, compassion, and forgiveness.
So . . . enough is enough. Let’s turn our attention toward loving and forgiving others, even those who have deeply offended us. Let’s not separate ourselves into categories of “us” and “them” and take sides. Love wins . . . when we treat others with respect. Love wins . . . when we forgive. Love wins . . . when we overlook our differences to realize that Christ came for all — and all means all! Every single person matters. The most annoying person in our life, the person who judges us or the person we harshly judge, may need our understanding, love, and forgiveness. We surely don’t know or understand how a friend may be struggling from present or past pain. By affirming the other as a child of God, we open up possibilities and opportunities for God’s grace to come into each situation.
This passage calls me to be intentional in receiving all persons on a daily basis with unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace. I know of friends and family that have been separated from the church by the harshness of some who claim to speak for God. What a great difference you may make by affirming and loving these folks. If we are the Body of Christ, where are our hands, our feet, our hearts? Let’s embrace each moment and each person with God’s grace and see what a difference we can make!
Thought for the day: What difference can I make today by not condemning folks? What would happen if I unconditionally forgive and accept all God’s children?